Manny Juan is at the forefront of vegan cooking in Montecito. The all-vegan menu at the popular Oliver’s in Montecito is a cultivation of flavors from his Santa Barbara upbringing and passion for health-conscious eating — all without being a vegan himself!
Becoming a chef was destined for Manny. His father, Obdulio Juan came to Santa Barbara from Texas with ambitions to become a cook in 1988 and landed a job at the longstanding Joe’s Cafe. Obdulio’s tenure at Joe’s lasted for over 18 years. “I remember riding my bike up Cota Street towards State Street after getting out of school and stopping by Joe’s to say hi and visit his kitchen. At that age it was so cool to see behind the scenes,” said Manny.
When it came time to find a job in high school, Manny credits his former counselor, current city council member Alejandra Guiterrez. “She helped me get my first job at a retirement home at Woodland Hall, where I learned more about hospitality.” After Woodland Hall, Manny gained nine years of experience in a corporate kitchen setting at the (now closed) Nordstrom Café, where he began as a dishwasher and worked his way up to line cook. As Manny yearned for more knowledge, he decided to enroll in the culinary program at Santa Barbara City College.